Difficult yet vital issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion in Ventura County public schools are the focus of the first-ever Ventura County Office of Education Equity Conference to be held on May 24, 2021. This three hour virtual event will feature a wide variety of workshops on ways to increase opportunities and break down barriers for students from marginalized communities.

“We live in an extremely diverse county with schools that serve students from vastly different backgrounds,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “While our schools are already doing admirable work addressing racial, social and institutional inequities, there is more to be done. That’s why I encourage everyone to join us for the upcoming VCOE Equity Conference,” he said.

Conference participants will get to choose from an impressive menu of workshops tailored to audiences including educators, parents and students. A small sampling of the workshop topics includes:

• Equity 101: exploring the opportunity gap
• Understanding the neuroscience behind unconscious bias
• Student panelists share their struggles and ideas for creating more inclusive schools
• Helping parents from Mexico learn about differences in the US school system
• Maximizing inclusivity for LGBT+ students in the classroom

The conference will be held virtually and presented in English and Spanish. It takes place on Monday, May 24 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event is free of charge, but registration is required at www.vcoe.org/equity or www.vcoe.org/equidad.